Methods and systems for enabling return to same position in a review of messages in a voice mail system using tag or identifier stored in the voice mail system

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in a voice mail system (VMS), to make a call or take some other action, and to return to the same position as occupied at the time of interruption in the review of messages in the VMS. In response to an indication from the subscriber&#39;s communication to leave the review, an identifier is created to mark the position of the subscriber&#39;s communication in the review. The identifier is stored in the VMS. The VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber&#39;s communication, the message including a copy of the identifier. The message may be a GR-1120 message including a remote operations (RO) parameter with the copy of the identifier. In response to the release message, a service control point (SCP) stores the copy of the identifier and causes whatever action is indicated in the message to be taken with respect to the subscriber&#39;s communication. In response to the receipt of the release message from a network element other than the VMS, the SCP routes the subscriber&#39;s communication including the copy of the identifier to the VMS. The VMS uses the copy of the identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber&#39;s communication in the same position occupied previously in the review.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/413,388, filedJan. 24, 2002, which was the National Stage of International ApplicationNo. PCT/US00/04766, filed Feb. 25, 2000, which claimed the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/121,932, filed Feb. 26, 1999, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions related to the field of telecommunications, andparticularly, relate to the use of voice messaging systems in anAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN) of a communications system.

BACKGROUND

A person typically uses a telephone answering machine or a voice mailservice to provide a caller with an opportunity to leave a messageshould the person be unavailable to take the call. On a busy day, anumber of messages may be accumulated and made available for retrieval.As the person goes through the accumulated messages, he or she maysimply listen to some of the messages. For other messages, the personmay desire to speak directly to the callers in “live calls to thecallers”. In other words, the person may desire to make a reply call toone of the callers who left the person a message.

There are different ways in which a person may make a reply call to acaller who left a message such as the method referred to herein as the“urgent-reply”. Pursuant to the urgent-reply method, the reply call ismade as soon after listening to the relevant message as desired. Forexample, a caller may have left an urgent message for the person. Assoon as the person gathers the urgency of the message and the relevantcallback information, the person may initiate the reply call. In otherwords, the person interrupts his or her review of messages to make the“urgent-reply”. Generally, if the person interrupts his or her review ofmessages, (such as to make an “urgent-reply”), the person misses therest of his or her messages. To review those missed messages, somesystems require the person to call back into the system and to repeat areview of previously reviewed messages.

Systems that require a person to call back into a voice mail system andrepeat a review of messages are frustrating to some subscribers becausethey delay the subscribers' retrieval of missed messages. In thesefrustrating systems, the person calls back into the system, and if theperson has not erased or otherwise taken care of the reviewed messages,the person must listen through or at least skip through the reviewedmessages to get to the missed or unread messages. Such a frustratedsubscriber much prefers to return to the VMS and pick up where he or sheleft off by skipping the reviewed messages and proceeding directly tothe missed or unread messages.

One way of making a reply call that returns a subscriber to the place inthe review of messages where the subscriber left off is referred toherein as a “bounce-back” method, which is generally available only fromadvanced voice mail systems. Such an advanced voice mail system requiresthe person to call-in for messages, allows a reply call to be made aftera particular message, and then allows the person to return to the voicemail service without the person having to make another call into thesystem. The bounce-back method may be implemented through the use of aplatform such as an intelligent peripheral (IP) that maintains controlover the person's call into the system and over the reply call. Onemanner in which to maintain control is to bridge the person's call intothe system with the reply call to the caller who left the message. Afterthe reply call is finished, then the bridge may be tom down, and theperson may return to a review of messages or other voice mail functions.

But the manner in which the bounce-back method allows the person toreturn to the voice mail service without having to make a separate callinto the system has drawbacks. Maintaining control over the person'scall into the system and the reply call (by making a bridge orotherwise) has the effect of including the platform of the voice mailservice as an element in the call path. By remaining an element in thecall path, the platform takes up resources of the telecommunicationsnetwork. In addition, by remaining an element in the call path, theplatform may limit, if not eliminate, its own resources to take othercalls for the person. Rather than being able to take another call forthe person, the platform may be effectively “busy”. Whether theresources that are taken up are those of the telecommunications network,the platform, or the voice mail service, the result of the take-up inresources is an increase in cost in at least operation of the platformand service.

Accordingly, there is a need for a solution that allows a person tointerrupt a review of messages in a VMS to take some action, and afterthe interruption, to return to the same place in the review of messagesoccupied at the time of the interruption without the person having tomake a call into the VMS or otherwise to activate the voice mailservice, and without an implementing device of the voice mail servicebeing included as an element in the call path during the interruption.

SUMMARY

Generally stated, the present inventions relate to methods and systemsfor enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in a voicemail system (VMS) so as to make a call or take some other action such asto make a reply call to one of the messages, and to return to the sameposition as occupied at the time of the interruption in the VMS. Duringthe interruption, the VMS is not included in the call path with respectto the subscriber's communication. Advantageously, after theinterruption, the subscriber may be returned to the same position in theVMS without the subscriber having to make a separate call into the VMS.

More particularly, assume a subscriber is in a review of messages in theVMS and indicates a desire to interrupt the review such as by making acall in response to one of the messages retrieved from the VMS. Inresponse to the indication from the subscriber's communication to leavethe review, an identifier is created to mark the position of thesubscriber's communication in the review. The identifier is stored inthe VMS. The VMS transmits a release message with respect to thesubscriber's communication and the message may include a copy of theidentifier. The message also may indicate the action to be implementedwith respect to the subscriber's communication (such as the routing of areply call), and may include information related to the action such asthe reply telephone number or other information. The message may be aGR-1129 message including a remote operations (RO) parameter with thecopy of the identifier and/or other information. The release messageeffectively removes the VMS from further involvement with thesubscriber's communication at least until the subscriber's communicationis rerouted to the VMS.

The message from the VMS may be received by the service switching point(SSP) serving the VMS (SSP of VMS), which in turn, routes the message(and/or the information from the message) to a service control point(SCP). In response to the message, the SCP stores the copy of theidentifier (if included) and causes whatever action is indicated in themessage to be taken with respect to the subscriber's communication.

For example, the SCP may direct the SSP of VMS to route thecommunication to the subscriber's directory number. A reason for firstrouting the communication to the subscriber's directory number is tohave the communication appear as if it is being made from a linecorresponding to the subscriber's directory number. The communication isto appear as if it is being made from the subscriber's directory numberfor purposes of creating a billing record billing the subscriber, whohas elected to make a reply call to a voice mail message.

In the course of routing the subscriber's communication to thesubscriber's directory number, the communication typically is routed tothe SSP serving the subscriber's directory number (subscriber's SSP).The subscriber's SSP pauses in the processing of the communication andqueries the SCP for instructions. The SCP then instructs thesubscriber's SSP to take action with respect to the communication. Forexample, if the action is a reply call to a party who left thesubscriber a message, then the action may include routing thecommunication for termination to an intelligent network element (INE)such as an intelligent peripheral (IP). The INE is provided with thereply telephone number, and may be provided with a copy of theidentifier.

In response to the termination of the subscriber's communication to theINE, the INE initiates an INE call to the reply telephone number. TheINE also bridges the subscriber's communication and the INE's call toform the reply call. As a result of the bridge between the subscriber'scommunication and the INE's call, the subscriber is provided with areply call to the reply telephone number. Advantageously, the VMS is notinvolved in this reply call from the subscriber through to the replynumber. The release of the VMS from the subscriber's communication freesup the VMS for other calls, reduces use of the infrastructure of thecommunications network by obviating the connections of the subscriber'scommunication to the VMS, and otherwise improves the efficiency ofprocessing the reply call.

After the interruption, such as after the disconnection of the replycall, the subscriber may return to a review of messages in the VMS. Thesubscriber may return to the VMS without having to make a separate callinto the VMS. In addition, the subscriber may be returned to the sameposition in the review that the subscriber occupied when theinterruption occurred.

More particularly, assume as an example that the interruption is a replycall to a message left for the subscriber in the VMS. The subscriber'scommunication has been bridged with the INE's call to form the call tothe reply telephone number. To connect the subscriber for interactionagain with the VMS, the reply call is monitored for a disconnect signalsuch as a disconnect event, the input of particular digits, or the like.The bridge between the subscriber's communication and the INE's call isdismantled so as to disconnect the INE's call to the reply telephonenumber. The INE may provide a release message to the SSP serving the INEso as to indicate the INE's withdrawal or release from usage withrespect to the subscriber's communication. This release message from theINE may include the copy of the identifier.

In response to the release message from the INE, the SSP serving the INEmay obtain instructions with respect to the subscriber's communicationfrom the SCP. In the course of obtaining these instructions, the SSPserving the INE may provide the SCP with the copy of the identifier. Thequery for instructions from the SSP serving the INE may put the SCP onnotice that a network element other than the VMS has released thesubscriber's communication. To return the subscriber to the VMS, the SCPprovides the SSP serving the INE with directions to route thesubscriber's communication to the VMS. The directions may include thecopy of the identifier for transmission to the VMS.

The subscriber's communication is routed by the SSP serving the INE tothe VMS and may include the copy of the identifier. The VMS uses thecopy of the identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in the same position occupied previously in the review. Ifthe VMS is not provided with the copy of the identifier, the VMS mayotherwise access the appropriate identifier for the subscriber'scommunication (such as through use of the subscriber's directory number,etc.) and use the identifier to place the subscriber's communication inthe same position occupied previously in the review.

That the present inventions and the exemplary embodiments accomplish thefeatures of the present inventions will become apparent from thedetailed description of the exemplary embodiments and the drawings thatfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary messaging system such as aregion-wide messaging system that may be used in connection with thepresent inventions FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplaryreply call from the subscriber to the reply telephone number without theinvolvement of the VMS in the reply call.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary table 60 such as may be used inconnection with the retrieval of messages in the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary connection of thesubscriber's communication for interaction with the VMS after thedisconnection of the reply call and without the subscriber having tocall back into the VMS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present inventions provide methods andsystems for enabling a subscriber to interrupt a review of messages in avoice mail system (VMS) so as to make a call or take some other actionsuch as to make a reply call to one of the messages, and to return tothe same position as occupied at the time of the interruption in theVMS. During the interruption, the VMS is not included in the call pathwith respect to the subscriber's communication. Advantageously, afterthe interruption, the subscriber may be returned to the same position inthe VMS without the subscriber having to make a separate call into theVMS.

Exemplary Environment for Exemplary Embodiments

The exemplary embodiments of the present inventions are used,preferably, with a region-wide messaging (RWM) system, as described ingreater detail below. Nevertheless, the present inventions may be usedwith any type of messaging system with the appropriate functionality.

The RWM system described herein may allow a subscriber to the messagingsystem within the region of the service provider to send, receive,forward, and reply to messages, including voice mail messages and VoiceProfile for Internet Mail (VPIM) Messages. Subscribers may receivemessages from other subscribers and non-subscribers.Subscriber-to-subscriber messaging, however, illustrates the advancedfeatures of the RWM system, which may be available, such as: (1) eachsubscriber may send a message to another subscriber; (2) each subscribermay reply to a message received from another subscriber; (3) eachsubscriber may reply to a telephone message received from anon-subscriber by implementing a feature that dials the non-subscriber;and (4) each subscriber may receive and reply to Internet voice messagesor fax messages.

Exemplary RWM System—FIG. 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary RWM system 10 (also referredto as a telecommunications messaging network). The network 10 includes avariety of interconnected network elements. A group of such elementsincludes the plurality of end offices which are indicated as serviceswitching points (SSPs or switches) 12 a, 12 b, 12 c. An SSP typicallyincludes switch functionality, but also includes other functionality soas to communicate with other network elements, and in particular, withAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN) elements. SSP 12 a and SSP 12 c areeach coupled to a subscriber line, which also may be referred to as aline or a calling line. Each SSP 12 a, 12 b, 12 c serves a designatedgroup of lines, and thus, the SSP that serves a particular line may bereferred to as its serving switch. The line is typically connected to apiece of terminating equipment including telephones 14, 38. Althoughtelephones 14, 38 are illustrated as the terminating equipment, thoseskilled in the art will understand that such terminating equipment mayinclude other telecommunications devices including, but not limited to,facsimile machines, computers, modems, etc. End offices may further becoupled through a tandem office (not illustrated), which may be used toconnect and switch circuits between and among end offices.

Each active line in an AIN is assigned a ten digit (NPA-NXX-XXXX) linenumber regardless of whether seven or ten digits are dialed to reach thesubscriber. A line number is commonly referred to as a telephone numberor a directory number.

SSP 12 b is connected by trunks to a voice mail system (VMS) (messagingplatform) 15. (These trunks use Signaling System 7 signals for callset-up and other actions.) SSP 12 c is connected by trunks to a voicemail system (VMS) (messaging platform) 17.

SSPs 12 a, 12 b, 12 c are interconnected by a plurality of trunkcircuits 18. These are the voice path trunks that connect the SSPs toconnect communications. In addition to connections to other elements,each of the SSPs is connected to a local signal transfer point (STP) 20via respective data links. Currently, these data links employ asignaling protocol referred to as Signaling System 7 (SS7). Much of theintelligence of the AIN resides in a service control point (SCP) 22 thatis connected to STP 20 over an SS7 data link. Among the functionsperformed by the SCP 22 is the maintenance of network databases andsubscriber databases as represented collectively by databases(subscriber data) 24. The system 10 may also include intelligent networkelements (INEs) such as the INE 39 illustrated as connected to SSP 12 c.An INE may be an intelligent peripheral (IP) such as a service node (SN)(sometimes referred to as a service circuit node). An INE may includevoice and dual tone multi-frequency (DTW) signal recognition devices andvoice synthesis devices. The INE 0.39 may be connected to the SSP 12 cthrough a data link using an X.25 or other protocol and typically may beconnected to one or more SSPs via an Integrated Service Digital Network(ISDN) links.

In order to keep the processing of data and calls as simple as possible,a relatively small set of triggers is defined at the SSPs for each call.A trigger in the AIN is an event associated with a particular call thatgenerates a packet to be sent to an SCP. The SCP queries its databasesor service package applications (SPAs) for processing instructions withrespect to the particular call. The results are sent back to the SSP ina response from the SCP 22 through STP 20 The return packet includesinstructions to the SSP as to how to process the call. The instructionsmay be to take some special action as a result of a customized callingservice or an enhanced feature. In response to the instructions, the SSPmoves through the remaining call states, may encounter further triggers,and generates further packets that are used to set up and route thecall. Similar devices for routing calls among various local exchangecarriers are provided by regional STP (not illustrated) and by regionalSCP (not illustrated) which may be connected to STP 20, SCP 22, and/orto the elements described herein through the public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN) 26.

When a messaging subscriber (such as the person or entity usingtelephone 14) subscribes to a messaging service, an entry or a record iscreated in a VMS such as VMS 15. Each VMS 15, 17 includes subscriberadministration, message retrieval, send, reply, forward, and mailboxmaintenance functions, among others. Each VMS 15, 17 includes or isfunctionally connected respectively to a subscriber profile database 28,30 (subscriber data). Each subscriber profile database storessubscriber-specific profile information (subscriber information) forretrieval by VMS functions. The VMSs 15, 17 are elements of themessaging system or service. To the protected TCP/IP network(s) 32described below, each of the messaging platforms 15, 17 look like avalid TCP/IP element. In support of this, the VMSs 15, 17 may beassigned a TCP/IP (or IP) address and/or a domain name. Generally, theTCP/IP or other address or domain name of the VMS 15, 17 may be storedin a region-wide messaging directory (RMD) 25 discussed below, or may bestored on some domain name server (not illustrated) either in theprotected TCP/IP network(s) 32, in some other element, or as a separateelement. In further support of this TCP/IP capability, the VMSs 15, 17may also provide operations access to mail administrative destinations,in addition to subscriber messaging mailbox destinations. In addition,each VMS 15 or 17 is an SS7 network element and as such is assigned anidentifier such as a directory number, a destination point code (DPC) orthe like.

The VMSs 15, 17 communicate with the SSP and the SCP according to theAIN 0.2 Switch—Intelligent Peripheral Interface GenericRequirements—1129-CORE Specification, AINGR: Switch—IntelligentPeripheral Interface (IPI) (A module of AINGR, FR-15); Document Number:GR-1129; Issue Number: 03; Updates: REV01-October 1998; Issue Date:September 1997; Product Type: Industry Requirements and Standards (RS);Component of FR-15, (“GR-1129”) which is incorporated herein byreference. This GR-1129 describes the use of a Remote Operations (RO)parameter for indicating the invocation of a supplementary service. TheRO parameter may be used to allow the SCP 22 and the VMSs 15, 17 toshare information.

In this messaging service, TCP/IP messaging is allowed via a privateTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network(protected TCP/IP network(s)) 32. The VMSs 15, 17 through the network 32may use a Light-weight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to communicatewith other elements such as a domain name server (not illustrated)and/or directories such as RMD 25 to obtain information with respect tothe proper destination/recipient of a message.

An Internet gateway 34 provides secure access between the private TCP/IPnetwork 32 and the Internet 36. The gateway 34 limits the access of VPIMtraffic to and from the Internet 36. In addition, the gateway 34performs authorized LDAP messaging directory lookups to route messagesreceived from the Internet 36.

Advantageously, a subscriber's line number generally may be thesubscriber's mailbox number associated with a messaging platformrendering service to the subscriber in the RWM system. In other words, amessage addressed to the subscriber may include the subscriber's linenumber, which may also be the subscriber's mailbox number.Alternatively, the subscriber's mailbox number may relate to some otheridentifier associated with the subscriber. The subscriber's address maybe based on the ten digit directory number (DN) using an InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITV) Standard E. 164 compliant address.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the exemplary use of a region-wide messagingdirectory 25 (RMD or directory) in the messaging system 10. The RMD 25is functionally connected to the other elements of the messaging system10 through inclusion in or a connection to the TCP/IP network 32.Although the RMD 25 is illustrated as connected to the system 10 throughthe TCP/IP network 32, the RMD 25, or course, may be connected to thesystem 10 in other ways or even be included in an element of the systemsuch as in association with the directories 24 of SCP 22. An RMDprovides high-speed directory look-up for messaging subscribers.Generally, an RMD stores information so as to determine which messagingplatform of the RWM system serves which subscriber. Additionalinformation on the manner in which the RMDs of the messaging system 10store information on messaging platforms and subscribers and how RMDsinteract with a network element 51 may be obtained from the commonlyassigned and owned patent application entitled “Methods and System forDetermining Message Routing Based on Elements of a Directory Number”,which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office onDec. 13, 1999 and assigned Ser. No. 09/459,498, and which was filed withthe United States Receiving Office pursuant to the Patent CooperationTreaty (PCT) on Dec. 13, 1999 and assigned Application No.PCT/US99/29491 and which application is herein by reference.

Of course, an RMD may keep track of other information relating tosubscribers of the RWM system. In particular, the RMD may act as both aclient and a server with respect to the Light-weight Directory AccessProtocol (LDAP). The RMD stores subscriber, service, and other messagingdata. In addition, the RMD supports the LDAP attributes field for LDAPclients to choose the fields that they desire to retrieve from theserver. Clients may retrieve the subscriber profile from the RMD.

Subscriber data may be stored in the RMD in the following exemplaryfashion: Description/Directory Field LDAP DN Attribute Subscriber'sMailbox Number CN (Common Name) Name Announcement Spoken NameMDSBlocking N/A

Subscriber data is used to look up subscribers in the RMD. The data isalso used for the purposes of routing and billing a subscriber's callsand messages to and from the messaging platforms.

Service data may be stored in the RMD in the following exemplaryfashion: Description/Directory Field LDAP DN Attribute VMS ID VMSID VMSDAP Number VMSDN VMS Domain Domain VoiceEncoding N/A LATA N/A State N/AStateLATA N/A LDAP Credentials Hidden in LDAP query VMS IP addressHidden in LDAP query

The service data contains messaging platform-specific information toperform certain checks during directory look-up and call/messagerouting. The RMD may also store service provider data to ensure that aservice provider has access to only its authorized subscribers'information.

Exemplary Reply Call With An Identifier Marking the Subscriber'sPosition—FIG. 2 and FIG. 3

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary reply call from thesubscriber to a reply telephone number without the involvement of theVMS in the reply call. Additional information on reply calls such as theexemplary reply call described in connection with FIG. 2 may be found inthe commonly assigned and owned patent application entitled “Methods andSystems for Enabling a Reply Call to a Voice Mail Message”, filedconcurrently on Feb. 25, 2000 with the United States Patent andTrademark Office and assigned Ser. No.______and with the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office as the receiving office pursuant to thePatent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and assigned Application No.______andincorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 2, assume for this example that a subscriber 40 hascalled the VMS 48 to retrieve messages. During the retrieval, thesubscriber 40 interrupts to take action on a message by placing a replycall. After the reply call, the subscriber desires to return to theposition in the review of messages where lie or she left off at the timeof the interruption. In the figures, solid arrows and cross-hatchedarrows illustrate the call path of a communication. Dashed arrowsillustrate the paths between or among elements in the exchange of dataor control signals.

Subscriber 40 dials a “pilot” or “administration” number, which also maybe referred to as a messaging access telephone number. As indicated bysolid arrow A, the subscriber's communication is routed to the serviceswitching point serving the subscriber (“subscriber's SSP”) 42. Asindicated by solid arrow B, the subscriber's SSP routes the subscriber'scommunication to the SSP serving the VMS (“SSP of the VMS”) 44. Thecommunication encounters a trigger provisioned on the SSP of the VMS 44with respect to the pilot number. The SSP of the VMS 44 engages in aquery/response exchange (not illustrated in FIG. 2) with an SCP 46 andis provided with instructions to route the communication to the VMS 48.As indicated by solid arrow E, the SSP of the VMS 44 routes thesubscriber's communication to the VMS 48. The VMS 48 uses the callingnumber (i.e., the subscriber's directory number) to access thesubscriber's voice mailbox and to make any message available to thesubscriber.

Thus, the call path of the subscriber's communication to retrieve his orher voice mail messages from the VMS 48 is illustrated by the solidarrows A, B, and E of FIG. 2. In particular, the call path is from: thesubscriber's equipment 40 to the subscriber's SSP 42 (arrow A); thesubscriber's SSP 42 to the SSP of the VMS 44 (arrow B); and then the SSPof the VMS 44 to the VMS 48 (arrow E).

When the subscriber 40 calls into the VMS 48 to retrieve messages, theVMS 48 may keep track of the position of the subscriber's communicationwith respect to the retrieval of the messages. The VMS 48 may keep trackof the position (and related information) through the use of a table orother device. The VMS 48 may present the subscriber 40 (visually on adisplay or by announcement) with his or her position in the retrieval ofmessages.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary table 60 such as may be used by the VMS48 and/or presented to the subscriber 40 in connection with theretrieval of messages. The table 60 includes two columns: the left“position” column 62; and the right “identifier” column 64. Each columnincludes entries that correspond row by row alignment to the entries ofthe other column. The position column 62 includes entries which indicatethe position of the subscriber in the voice mail service. The identifiercolumn 64 provides a respective identifier in each of its entries tocorrespond to the appropriate entry in the position column.

Prior to a functional description of the table 60, details are nowprovided about the entries 66-73 in the table. As the first row in thetable 60, the highest level in message retrieval of the position column62 is the entry 66 entitled “voice message retrieval”. The correspondingentry 67 in the identifier column 64 is marked “empty”. As the secondrow in the table 60, the entry 68 of the position column 62 is entitled“first message retrieved”. The corresponding entry 69 in the identifiercolumn 64 is marked “empty”. As the third row in the table 60, the entry70 of the position column 62 is entitled “second message retrieved”. Thecorresponding entry 71 in the identifier column 64 is marked “16”. Asthe fourth row in the table 60, the entry 70 of the position column 62is entitled “third message retrieved”. The corresponding entry 73 ismarked “empty”.

One feature of the exemplary embodiments that this table 60 illustratesis that a subscriber may interrupt a review of messages at any point. Inthis example, the subscriber has decided to interrupt a review ofmessages in the VMS 48 to make a reply call (a “live call”) to a calledparty who left him or her the second voice mail message. To indicatethat the subscriber desires to make a reply call to a particular voicemail message, he or she provides some indication to the VMS 48 such asthe input of a particular code. Generally, the code may be input by thesubscriber while the subscriber is listening or reviewing the particularmessage, or after the end of the particular message. The subscriber mayinput this code and make a reply call to a message even though othermessages are awaiting review by the subscriber. In sum, the subscriberdoes not have to wait until all of the messages have been reviewed orotherwise reach the end of the accumulated messages in order to make areply call to a particular message.

The VMS 48 notes the receipt of the indication [AudioDTMF[nn]] that thesubscriber desires to make a reply call to a message, and in thisexample, to the second message. The VMS 48 creates and stores anidentifier to correspond to the second message. Referring to table 60,entry 70 entitled “second message retrieved” in the position column 62is the relevant entry, and its corresponding entry 71 in the“identifier” column is filled with an identifier marked “16” in thisexample. The identifier also may be referred to as a bookmark, an accessnumber or code, or the like. For the identifier, the exemplary VMS 48selects an integer (“16”) from a pool of integers available for use asidentifiers. The VMS 48 stores the identifier in the table 60 (or inanother device or area) so that the identifier corresponds to the menulevel of the subscriber's communication in review of messages (“secondmessage retrieved” in this example).

Now referring again to FIG. 2, also in response to the receipt of theindication that the subscriber desires to make a reply call to amessage, as indicated by dashed arrow F, the VMS 48 sends an ISUPRelease (ISUP REL) message to the SSP of the VMS 44. The message is arelease of the subscriber's communication by the VMS 44. The message maybe a GR-1129 message and may include a remote operations (RO) parameterwith fields: (1) an identifier for implementation of a reply call (whichmay be characterized as an identifier of an operation type andabbreviated as “OperType”); (2) a destination number (DestNumber) forthe reply call which may be referred to as the reply telephone number(which may be included by the VMS as taken from the informationassociated with the message to which the subscriber is making the replycall); (3) a subscriber number that identifies the subscriber withrespect to his or her mailbox and/or for billing purposes; and (4) acopy of the identifier (i.e., the “16” entry) corresponding to thesubscriber's position in the review of messages in the VMS. The releasemessage effectively removes the VMS 48 from further involvement with thesubscriber's communication or with the reply call (at least until thesubscriber's communication is returned to the VMS 48) The message fromthe VMS 48 is received by the SSP of the VMS 44, which, in turn,transmits a TCAP Resource_Clear (TCAPResClear) message to the SCP 46 asindicated by dashed arrow G. The message from the SSP of the VMS 44 tothe SCP 46 may include the message from the VMS 48 or the relevant partsthereof such as identification of the operation to be implemented (i.e.,reply call), the reply telephone number, the subscriber's directorynumber, and a copy of the identifier marking the position of thesubscriber's communication in the review of messages in the VMS.

In response to receipt of the message from the SSP of the VMS 44, theSCP 46 analyzes the message and determines that an operation is to beimplemented with respect to the subscriber's communication. In thisexample, the operation to be implemented is a reply call and the replycall is to be made to the called party number. Accordingly, the SCP 46,as indicated by dashed arrow H, sends a TCAP Analyze_Route (TCAPAnaIRte)message to the SSP of the VMS 44, which instructs the SSP of the VMS 44to route the subscriber's communication to the subscriber's directorynumber. The message from the SCP 46 sets the called number to thesubscriber's directory number. The SCP 46 also includes at least thereply telephone number (for example, as the redirecting number) and mayinclude the other information from the RO parameter in its message tothe SSP of the VMS 44 such as the copy of the identifier marking thesubscriber's position in the review of messages in the VMS.

As noted, the SCP 46 directs the SSP of the VMS 44 to route thesubscriber's communication to the subscriber's directory number. Areason for first routing the communication to the subscriber's directorynumber is to have the communication appear as if it is being made from aline corresponding to the subscriber's directory number. Thecommunication is to appear as if it is being made from the subscriber'sdirectory number for purposes of creating a billing record billing thesubscriber, who has elected to make a reply call to a voice mailmessage. Of course, if there is no reason to route the communicationfirst to the subscriber's directory number, then the communication maybe routed directly to the reply telephone number.

The SSP of the VMS 44 uses an ISUP message in routing the communicationto the subscriber's directory number. The ISUP message may include acopy of the identifier marking the position of the subscriber'scommunication in the review of messages in the VMS 48. In the course ofthe routing, the communication is directed to the SSP serving thesubscriber's directory number (subscriber's SSP) 42, where a terminationattempt (TAT) trigger is encountered with respect to the subscriber'sdirectory number. The subscriber's SSP 42 pauses in the processing ofthe communication and queries the SCP 46 for instructions by using aTCAP termination attempt (TCAP TermAttempt) message. The message fromthe subscriber's SSP 42 may include the message or the relevantinformation from the message (i.e., the RO parameter information)relating to the reply call such as provided by the VMS 48 and includingan identifier for the operation to be implemented, the reply telephonenumber, the subscriber's directory number, and a copy of the identifiermarking the position of the subscriber's communication in the review ofmessages in the VMS. The transmission of the query from the subscriber'sSSP 42 to the SCP 46 is illustrated in FIG. 3 by the dashed arrow J.

The SCP 46 examines the information received in the TCAP TermAttemptmessage, and determines that the communication is an outdial call. TheSCP 46 then uses a TCAP Forward_Call message, as indicated by dashedarrow K, to instruct the subscriber's SSP 42 to route the communicationfor termination to an intelligent network element (INE) such as anintelligent peripheral (IP) 52. The instructions may include a copy ofthe identifier marking the position of the subscriber's communication inthe review of messages in the VMS.

As indicated by solid arrow L, the subscriber's SSP 42 routes thesubscriber's communication to the SSP of the IP 50 and may include acopy of the identifier marking the position of the subscriber'scommunication in the review of the messages in the VMS. The subscriber'sSSP 42 uses an ISUP IAM message with the called number as the directorynumber of the IP 52 and may include the information of the RO parameter.As indicated by solid arrow M, the SSP of the IP 50 then terminates thesubscriber's communication to the IP 52. The SSP of the IP 50 uses a PRISetup message and may include the information of the RO parameterincluding a copy of the identifier marking the position of thesubscriber's communication in the review of messages in the VMS.

At this point in the implementation of the reply call to the message asindicated by the subscriber, the call path of the subscriber'scommunication does not include the VMS 48. In particular, at this point,the call path is illustrated in FIG. 2 as from: the subscriber'sequipment 40 to the subscriber's SSP 42 (arrow A); the subscriber's SSP42 to the SSP of the IP 50 (arrow L); and the SSP of the IP 50 to the IP52 (arrow M). (In some cases, the call path also may include the SSP ofthe VMS 44).

In response to the termination of the subscriber's communication to theIP 52, the IP 52 initiates a call to the reply telephone number (“IP'scall”). The IP's call is initially routed from the IP 52 to the SSP ofthe IP 50 as indicated by cross-hatched arrow N and uses a PRI Setupmessage. From the SSP of the IP 50, the IP's call is routed, asillustrated by cross-hatched arrow 0, to the SSP serving the replytelephone number (“called party's SSP”) 54. The called party's SSP 54further routes the IP's call to the equipment of the called party 56 asindicated by cross-hatched arrow P. Thus, the call path of the IP's callis from: the IP 52 to the SSP of the IP 50 (arrow N); the SSP of the IP50 to the called party's SSP 54 (arrow 0); and the called party's SSP 54to the called party 56 (arrow P).

In addition, the IP 52 connects or merges the subscriber's communicationand the IPs call such as by making a bridge 58, or otherwise, to formthe reply call. As a result of the bridge 58 between the subscriber'scommunication and the IP's call, the subscriber is provided with a replycall to the reply telephone number.

Advantageously, the VMS 48 is not involved in this reply call from thesubscriber through to the reply number. The release of the VMS 48 fromthe subscriber's communication frees up the VMS 48 for other calls,reduces use of the infrastructure of the communications network byobviating the connections of the subscriber's communication to the VMS48, and otherwise improves the efficiency of processing the reply call.

Exemplary Connection for Interaction with the VMS—FIG. 4

An advantage of the present inventions is that they provide methods andsystems to connect the subscriber to the VMS 48 for interaction with theVMS 48 after an interruption in the retrieval of messages without thesubscriber having to make a separate call into the VMS and by placingthe subscriber in the position in the review of messages at the pointwhere the subscriber left off for the interruption.

Generally, to connect the subscriber for interaction again (after areply call or similar interruption) with the VMS 48, the reply call ismonitored by the IP 52 for a disconnect signal such as a disconnectevent, the input of particular digits, or the like [AudioDTMF “*”]. Inresponse to a disconnect signal, the IP 52 disconnects the called party56 so as to disconnect the IP's call. The bridge between thesubscriber's communication and the IP's call is dismantled so that onlythe subscriber's communication remains. The IP 52 releases thesubscriber's communication, which is routed to the VMS 48.

FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary environment of FIG. 3, but after the IP52 has received a disconnect signal and has disconnected the calledparty, and only the subscriber's communication remains. Unlike FIG. 3,there is no call path from the IP 52 to the SSP of the IP 50, nor a callpath from the SSP of the IP 50 to the called party's SSP 54, and no callpath from the called party's SSP 54 to the called party 56.

Once the IP 52 disconnects the IP's call, the IP 52 sends an ISUPRelease (ISUP) message to the SSP of the IP 50. This message may includea copy of the identifier marking the position of the subscriber'scommunication in the review of messages in the VMS. The SSP of the IP 50obtains instructions in a query/response exchange from the SCP 46 withrespect to the subscriber's communication (dashed arrows Q and R). Inthe query, the SSP of the IP 50 may provide a copy of the identifiermarking the position of the subscriber's communication in the review ofthe messages in the VMS. In the response, the SCP 46 may provide a copyof the identifier marking the position of the subscriber's communicationin the review of the messages in the VMS. In particular, thesubscriber's communication is processed so as to route the communicationto the VMS 48 without the subscriber having to call back into the VMS.

The subscriber's communication is routed by the SSP of the IP 50 to thedirectory number of the VMS 48. Solid arrow S from the subscriber's SSP42 to the SSP of the VMS 44 and solid arrow T from the SSP of the VMS 44to the VMS 48 (as well as arrow A from the subscriber 40 to thesubscriber's SSP 42) illustrate that the call path of the subscriber'scommunication has been returned to that illustrated by arrows A, B, andE of FIG. 2 when the subscriber 40 was in communication with the VMS 48.In the course of this routing of the subscriber's communication, the VMSmay be provided with a copy of the identifier marking the position ofthe subscriber's communication in the review of the messages in the VMS.Advantageously, the subscriber does not have to make a call back intothe VMS 48 to continue to interact with the VMS 48, but the subscribermay simply hang on after disconnection of the reply call to be routedback to the VMS 48.

In response to receipt of the subscriber's communication, the VMS 48places the subscriber's communication in the same position occupiedpreviously in the review (i.e., before the interruption). The VMS 48 mayaccomplish this placement by using the copy of the identifier with theidentifier the VMS 48 has stored with respect to this subscriber and/orto this subscriber's communication. The copy of the identifier may becompared for a match to the entries in the identifier column of thetable 60 of the subscriber's communication. If the VMS is not providedwith the copy of the identifier, the VMS may otherwise access theappropriate identifier for the subscriber's communication (such asthrough use of the subscriber's directory number, etc.) and use theidentifier to place the subscriber's communication in the same positionoccupied previously in the review.

Once the VMS has used the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in position, the VMS 48 may delete or otherwise eliminatethe identifier from its entry in the table 60 of the subscriber'scommunication. The identifier may be returned to the “pool ofidentifiers” for reuse.

Alternative Embodiments

The exemplary embodiments described above are related to use in amessaging system such as a voice mail system. Nonetheless, the presentinventions may be implemented in other contexts. For example, ratherthan returning a subscriber to a previous position in the retrieval ofmessages, the present inventions may be used in connection withreturning a user to a particular place in the review of other mattersuch as documents, audio messages, videos, music, educational orcommercial programs or materials, and the like.

An example of such an alternative use is in connection with a customerwho accesses materials relating to a product the customer is interestedin purchasing. The present inventions may be used to allow the customerto interrupt his or her review of the product materials, and then afterthe interruption, to return to the position occupied in the productmaterials prior to the interruption. Advantageously, the customer (andthe product vendor) is assured that the customer does not miss anythingin the product material, but still is able to take a break from reviewof the product material.

Another alternative use is in connection with the review of acompilation of songs by a potential customer. The customer may beengaged in reviewing the compilation track-by-track, but then beinterrupted for some reason. Using the present inventions, after theinterruption, the customer may be returned to the track of thecompilation which he or she was reviewing at the time of theinterruption.

CONCLUSION

From the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of thepresent inventions and operations thereof, other embodiments willsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope ofthe present invention is to be limited only by the claims below andequivalents thereof.

1. A method for placing a subscriber's communication in a position withrespect to a review of messages in a voice mail system (VMS), the methodcomprising: in response to an indication from the subscriber'scommunication to leave the review, creating an identifier to mark theposition of the subscriber's communication in the review; storing theidentifier; in response to a notice indicating the subscriber'scommunication is to rejoin the review in the VMS, using the identifierto place the subscriber's communication in the position in the review,whereby a subscriber may interrupt the review of messages in the VMS andthen return to the position in the review in the VMS.
 2. The method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the notice comprises a copy of theidentifier; and wherein using the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in the position in the review comprises using the copy ofthe identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in the position in the review.
 3. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein creating the identifier to mark the position of thesubscriber's communication comprises, in response to the indication fromthe subscriber's communication to leave the review, providing a messageindicating a release of the subscriber's communication.
 4. The method asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the message comprises a remote operations(RO) parameter including a copy of the identifier.
 5. The method asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the message comprises a GR-1129 messagecomprising the RO parameter including the copy of the identifier.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of transmittingthe identifier after the step of creating the identifier.
 7. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the received notice is generated by anon-terminating network element.
 8. A method of enabling the placementof a subscriber's communication in a position in a review of messages ina voice mail system (VMS), the method comprising: receiving a messageindicating a VMS release of the subscriber's communication by the VMS,the message including a copy of an identifier marking the position ofthe subscriber's communication in the review of messages in the VMS;storing the copy of the identifier; and in response to receiving anotice of a release of the subscriber's communication by a networkelement other than the VMS, directing the subscriber's communication tobe routed to the VMS including the copy of the identifier.
 9. The methodas claimed in claim 8, wherein the message comprises a remote operations(RO) parameter including the copy of the identifier.
 10. The method asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the message comprises a GR-1129 messagecomprising the RO parameter including the copy of the identifier.
 11. Amethod for enabling a subscriber, having established communication witha voice mail system (VMS), to interrupt a review of recorded messages inthe VMS, the method comprising: in response to an indication from saidestablished communication to leave the review of recorded messages inthe VMS, creating an identifier marking a position occupied by thesubscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messages in theVMS; storing the identifier; transmitting a release message indicatingat least a telephone number to which the new call is to be directed, therelease message further including a copy of said identifier; receivingthe release message, and causing said established communication to beterminated to an intelligent network element (INE), the INE beingfurther provided with the telephone number for the new call; in responseto termination of said established communication to the INE, initiatingan INE call to the telephone number, bridging said establishedcommunication and the INE call and forming the new call from thesubscriber, monitoring the new call for a disconnect signal, and inresponse to the disconnect signal, dismantling the bridge so as todisconnect the INE call and releasing said established communication; inresponse to a notice of release of said established communication by theINE, causing said established communication to be routed to the VMS andto include the copy of the identifier; and in response to receipt ofsaid established communication and the copy of the identifier, using thecopy of the identifier to return the subscriber to the position occupiedby the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messagesin the VMS, whereby the subscriber may interrupt the review of recordedmessages in the VMS to make a new call, and then return to the positionoccupied by the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recordedmessages in the VMS.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein therelease message from the VMS comprises a remote operations (RO)parameter including the reply telephone number and the copy of theidentifier.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the releasemessage comprises a GR-1129 message comprising the RO parameter.
 14. Themethod as claimed in claim 11, wherein the release message comprises aremote operations (RO) parameter including the reply telephone numberand the copy of the identifier.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14,wherein the release message comprises a GR-1129 message comprising theRO parameter.
 16. A computer readable medium having a program forplacing a subscriber's communication in a position with respect to areview of recorded messages in a voice mail system (VMS), the programcomprising logic configured to perform the steps of: in response to anindication from the subscriber's communication to leave the review ofrecorded messages in the VMS, creating an identifier to mark theposition of the subscriber's communication in the review of recordedmessages in the VMS; storing the identifier; in response to a noticeindicating the subscriber's communication is to rejoin the review ofrecorded messages in the VMS, using the identifier to place thesubscriber's communication in the position in the review of recordedmessages in the VMS, whereby a subscriber may interrupt the review ofmessages in the VMS and then return to the position in the review ofrecorded messages in the VMS.
 17. The computer readable medium asclaimed in claim 16, wherein the notice comprises a copy of theidentifier; and wherein using the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in the position in the review comprises using the copy ofthe identifier with the identifier to place the subscriber'scommunication in the position in the review.
 18. The computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 16, wherein creating the identifier to markthe position of the subscriber's communication comprises, in response tothe indication from the subscriber's communication to leave the review,providing a message indicating a release of the subscriber'scommunication.
 19. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18,wherein the message comprises a remote operations (RO) parameterincluding a copy of the identifier.
 20. The computer readable medium asclaimed in claim 19, wherein the message comprises a GR-1129 messagecomprising the RO parameter including the copy of the identifier. 21.The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16, further comprisinga step of transmitting the identifier after the step of creating theidentifier.
 22. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16,wherein the received notice is generated by a non-terminating networkelement.
 23. A computer readable medium having a program for enablingthe placement of a subscriber's communication in a position in a reviewof recorded messages in a voice mail system (VMS), the methodcomprising: receiving a release message indicating a VMS release of thesubscriber's communication by the VMS, the release message including acopy of an identifier marking the position of the subscriber'scommunication in the review of recorded messages in the VMS; storing thecopy of the identifier; and in response to receiving a notice of arelease of the subscriber's communication by a network element otherthan the VMS, directing the subscriber's communication to be routed tothe VMS including the copy of the identifier.
 24. The computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 23, wherein the message comprises a remoteoperations (RO) parameter including the copy of the identifier.
 25. Thecomputer readable medium as claimed in claim 24, wherein the messagecomprises a GR-1129 message comprising the RO parameter including thecopy of the identifier.
 26. A computer readable medium having a programfor enabling a subscriber, having established communication with a voicemail system (VMS), to interrupt a review of recorded messages in theVMS, the method comprising: in response to an indication from saidestablished communication to leave the review of recorded messages inthe VMS, creating an identifier marking a position occupied by thesubscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messages in theVMS; storing the identifier; transmitting a release message indicatingat least a telephone number to which the new call is to be directed, therelease message further including a copy of said identifier; receivingthe release message, and causing said established communication to beterminated to an intelligent network element (INE), the INE beingfurther provided with the telephone number for the new call; in responseto termination of said established communication to the INE, initiatingan INE call to the telephone number, bridging said establishedcommunication and the INE call and forming the new call from thesubscriber, monitoring the new call for a disconnect signal, and inresponse to the disconnect signal, dismantling the bridge so as todisconnect the INE call and releasing said established communication; inresponse to a notice of release of said established communication by theINE, causing said established communication to be routed to the VMS andto include the copy of the identifier; and in response to receipt ofsaid established communication and the copy of the identifier, using thecopy of the identifier to return the subscriber to the position occupiedby the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recorded messagesin the VMS, whereby the subscriber may interrupt the review of recordedmessages in the VMS to make a new call, and then return to the positionoccupied by the subscriber at the interruption of the review of recordedmessages in the VMS.
 27. The computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 26, wherein the release message from the VMS comprises a remoteoperations (RO) parameter including the reply telephone number and thecopy of the identifier.
 28. The computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the release message comprises a GR-1129 messagecomprising the RO parameter.
 29. The computer readable medium as claimedin claim 26, wherein the release message comprises a remote operations(RO) parameter including the reply telephone number and the copy of theidentifier.
 30. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 29,wherein the release message comprises a GR-1129 message comprising theRO parameter.